Shrimp

Coldwater Northern Prawn (Pandalus borealis) - Image courtesy of Seafish Public Media Library

Shrimp

Conservation status

Shrimp are long-bodied swimming crustaceans with extended antennae. Shrimp is an umbrella, non-scientific name sometimes used to describe small crustaceans in general and can be synonymous with prawn. Commonly, but not always accurately, shrimp (small) and prawn (large) are distinguished by size.

It is complicated to discuss shrimp and sustainability – because there are multiple species and habitats, a prevalence of shrimp farms, and farming and fishing practices endanger other marine species and habitats.

According to MCS ratings Brown Shrimp are under review and Northern Prawn receive mixed sustainability ratings depending on where they are caught. Wild caught coldwater Northern Prawn (Pandalus borealis) is Best Choice when caught in the Barents Sea north of Norway (also an MSC certified fishery). Those caught in the North Sea, Skagerrak, and Kattegat Need Improvement. Likewise, Tiger Prawns receive mixed reviews including an Avoid for farmed prawns in Vietnam, Indonesia, and India.

Overview

Recently the IUCN declared that 24% of wild freshwater fish, including Shrimp, are in danger of extinction due to river and lake pollution and drought.

Shrimp are a significant food source for predators, including fish and whales, and an important part of human diets - the Shrimp industry is big business. Northern Brown Shrimp are very small and very popular in Belgium and Holland and sold in the UK as potted shrimp.

There are 1000s of species of shrimp found in freshwater and marine habitats. Shrimp are abundant with a wide distribution. Shrimp farming has proliferated, and farms now produce more than are wild caught. Farming, especially where poorly managed and uncertified, contributes to the pollution of waterways caused by the use of pesticides, disinfectants, and antibiotics (especially without veterinary controls). Marine Shrimp aquaculture (particularly non certified) has caused the widespread loss of mangrove and coastal wetland habitats. (Some responsible and certified farmers actively restore these habitats). Overfishing and bycatch are big concerns and Greenpeace has been monitoring and protesting against Shrimp trawling in the NW Atlantic because of serious impacts on ecosystems and threats to deep sea species.

The Brown Shrimp or Common Shrimp

Scientific name: Crangon crangon

This is the most common Shrimp found around the coast of Britain – particularly in estuaries and on sandy and muddy sea beds. They are almost translucent with some brown mottling so that they are camouflaged against their surroundings. Shrimp will bury themselves to escape predators.

Other more unusual shrimps include Cleaner Shrimps who remove parasites from and live symbiotically with fish and sea turtles; Harlequin Shrimps who feed solely on starfish; Northern Shrimps (and others) who can change colour according to circumstances, and Shrimp that can jump with the help of their muscular tails.

Nigel Edwards explains more about the MCS rating with regard to farmed shrimp:

The MCS ratings for farmed warm water King and Tiger prawns depends on if the farm is certified by an independent standard. Their Best Choice is for Organic certification or extensive systems that do not rely on feed inputs. ‘Organic certification ensures best practices and guidelines are in place for animal welfare and humane slaughter and also mitigates many areas of environmental concern’. They rate GAA BAP and GLOBALG.A.P. certified farms as OK- ‘GLOBALG.A.P. farmed prawns are well managed and management is thought to be fully effective. The Aquaculture standard has criteria in place for welfare and humane slaughter. It also mitigates many areas of environmental concern in prawn farming, including freshwater depletion, habitat alteration, discharge of effluents, chemical usage, escapes and disease and parasite interactions.’ They rate uncertified prawn farms as Avoid in Vietnam, Indonesia, and India.

https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/wildlife-explorer/marine/crustaceans/brown-shrimp

https://www.greenpeace.to/publications/Aquaculture_Report_Technical.pdf

https://media.greenpeace.org/archive/Shrimp-Trawling-27MZIF25XFZR.html

https://www.mcsuk.org/goodfishguide/species/king-prawn/?search=shrimp

https://iucnus.org/news/iucn-finds-one-quarter-of-freshwater-species-are-at-risk-of-extinction/

https://www.trvst.world/biodiversity/types-of-shrimp/